Sticking to this schedule, I am, for now x_x had exams this week so it really messed up with my writing, I had to cut THREE scenes from this chapter to get this written in time, they'll all be in the next chapter x_x

Previous Reviews-

Moofy-Fan-

Aw, thank you, even though I hate Envy I'm glad I managed to write him at least normalish ^_^ Oh, yeah, I did kinda feel bad for Pride when Father was annoyed with Envy, I ended up imagining him like that rabbit that Ed and Al catch on the island that looks really scared and I was just awww, then I remembered he's still shunning everyone and life went on ^_^ Well, Envy's pretty good at replicating stuff, he only got confused since unlike Lust and Greed Pride has real clothes which made him think Pride's clothes were his skin too. Ah yes, Pride's lazer guided amnesia and denial, when I was writing it I was just like 'lol' XD

Muddywolf-

Yay, I'd glad I managed to write Envy ok. I was really worried about writing Pride and Father's dialogue together since I needed to write his dialogue a little afraid even though he was trying not to show it, plus I was really scrutinizing with how Father could twist Pride's phrasing to end up implying something disrespectful so I was worried it wouldn't turn out right, since I only wanted the one sentence to be misinterpreted ^^; Of course Pride'd be disgusted at Envy, given his disgust at worm Envy this was just another strike against Envy making a good first impression, I can't see them being good friends, especially not with Lust wanting to mollycoddle him ^_^

Anyway, on with the chapter ^_^

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Sin's Child

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Fleeting Fancies and Forced Fantasies

January 25th 1740

"I've been wondering something, Lust." Envy's voice in its non-altered form was far from any of their voices really, but he would always listen attentively when any of them spoke, trying to dissect every nuance, every slight change in enunciation that would one day lead him to perfect his imitation in almost all aspects. Personality would probably trip him up a lot, being around people such as them who were constantly playing a game, it wasn't like he would be capable of understanding their decades old charade, what good would such a thing do anyway? Trying to discover such was foolish. For now he was simply curious, hiding that petty jealousy of his in the fact that he could only pretend to be someone he wasn't (but they were all like that so he'd have to get used to it) and practice his shape shifting in hopes of gaining some attention from Father- for the most part Father had left him be, leaving him in her care and she was happy to have a new sibling to depend on her.

To Envy's most obviously leading statement Lust nodded, turning to face him. Of all Lust's siblings thus far Envy was being generally ignored, Greed had gone upstairs to waste money and 'make friends' like he often did, like it wasn't only three days since a new homunculus had been created but any normal day, and Pride was busy being smothered in the small shadowed cocoon he had taken to wrapping himself up in to keep himself isolated and what she assumed was to keep Envy away from him, lest he be imitated again. He was probably curled up with one of Father's books, though one her very recently purchased books had gone missing from her tabletop, so she wouldn't put it past him, like Father he desired to possess more knowledge than what would probably fit into his hollowed out little skull, that treatise written by a human on human nature would hold no sensible information she was sure, but if he was content in staying in his dark (though he most defiantly was lighting it from the inside with a candle or the shadows would not be sustainable), cramped, lonely space that was fine by her, being cooped up in his little willing prison- he might as well have not left his flask at all.

"And what would that be, Envy?" She allowed the slightest hint of amusement to creep into her voice, Envy was young, not exactly naïve but not one that well versed in common sense either. He'd certainly learn eventually, but until then she was happy to act like any sensible older sister should and correct him when he might accidentally stray (she tried to tell herself that she wasn't filling the void that Pride had left when he had severed himself from her, or trying to succeed here where she had failed with Greed). He inched himself closer to her, as if he just knew she'd be able to answer his query without the possibility of it being beyond her, at such an age she should have expected him to hang on her every word.

"You said that Big Brother Pride's body wasn't like ours, didn't you?" Envy began to change as he often did, he knew better than to try and fully imitate Pride ever again, only forming a vague countenance of his forever boyish face, still trying to stave off his confusion over Pride's clothes not being an extension of his body still resulted in him resorting to staining all his body from his neck down the shade of purple of Pride's coat and leaving himself bare apart from that, being able to remember the hazy detail of Pride's sleeves the white webbed flaps of skin grew out from his wrists as well. He shrank himself too, until her winter coat was almost suffocating him, he pulled it tight around him to hide his less than what he would consider satisfactory imitation (though his reluctance to perfect his imitation of Pride didn't help either), only his head poking out. If his intentionally unchanged eye colour hadn't already ruined her suspension of disbelief she would have mistaken him for that old, once innocent big brother of hers in a heartbeat, but maybe that was her wishing a bit too much. Envy was…very good at what he did, considering his age, she had been good at murder too, but that required less practice outside of not leaving too much of a mess, it wasn't really the same.

She had seen Pride's…undignified response to Envy's instinct to alter his appearance to match others, of course he would react in such a way, only he could be perfect, his container was perfect because Father made it all by himself just for him and no one else (Lust stopped herself before she ended up scoffing aloud at the thought), if there was someone who he considered inferior holding his appearance he could no longer be perfect, and what he would consider to be their glaring imperfections would only serve to reflect those internal flaws that he would never believe even existed. Of all their fantasies and delusions, Greed's stubborn belief of that thing called free will and independence, her want to believe that Father considered them a family, that she tried to uphold even though she was failing, but Pride…well, he was so caught up in them he didn't even realize it, and perhaps that was the worst delusion of all, and maybe, in some ways, the best.

"That I did, Pride's body isn't real, not like ours at all really. You've seen the shadows he has. That's what he's made of; they help him move his container around." Pride's rejection of Envy only ended up with him injuring himself on a more physical level, everyone had seen it save Envy and Pride himself. Envy was heavy, as it was expected given his true size, and in Pride's desperate attempt to tear himself away from Envy's imitation of him he had been foolish, putting so much strain on his container, he didn't see the way his wrist had broken, severed from the rest of his arm for a moment, stretching in a line of wispy black as he dragged Envy across the floor, the recoil once he managed to pull away no doubt leaving his arm a cracked, fragmented mess of broken skin, being torn apart by the agitated shadows coiling just below the surface. It was hardly worth the soul or two he probably unconsciously used to repair his arm for something so minor, rather than simply letting go of Envy's hand. Lust just hoped Envy would leave her be now, he was of no age to be prying into such things, she was far too prepared with her abundant web of lies should he do so, but she was in no mood for it, nor did she think she ever would be.

"But," it was almost inevitable now "but when he helped me up, there—there was something in his hand, inside it, it felt like-" Envy squeezed at his fingers and his hand experimentally, just to be sure "—bones, that's what it felt like. But you said Pride didn't have any bones since he was made of shadows instead of blood and stuff like we are." Oh, it was one of those things again, that which she had been sworn to secrecy and yet seemed to try its utmost to be discovered in one way or another, it had graciously evaded Greed's detection through his general lack of interest in any aspect of their eldest sibling, but with Envy's young curiosity, and while it would be easy to lie to him with him so trusting of her, actually constructing a firm and believable lie so quickly could prove troublesome should Envy wander and question Father about it.

"Oh, well, you must understand that…Pride's shadows…they aren't always wispy like they are now, sometimes they become solid, and they can be used to…cut, and eat things, once he even—never mind, that was a long time ago, but what I mean is that they might be partially solid inside his container to help it keep a fixed shape. That's probably what you felt." There, that would do for now, even if she was only grasping at straws and lying through her teeth Envy would probably never find any evidence to disprove her. There was no proof whatsoever that Pride's container was anything but artificial. No one must ever find out that, should anyone discover it, Envy would use it against him and tell everyone he laid his eyes on, Father would punish her for being irresponsible like always, Pride would…she didn't even want to think what Pride would do if he found out, and Greed, well, Lust wasn't sure Greed would actually care either way.

"Oh, so he isn't like us at all is he?" Envy seemed rather satisfied with the answer, thank goodness. After a moment or two he started to change back to normal, which was probably for the best, Pride would not be best pleased if he found Envy holding his shape again.

"Appearance wise, no. But you must've think any less of him because of that, you understand that, don't you Envy?" he nodded

"I understand, Lust. But I still don't know why he doesn't like me very much." Envy slouched a little in her coat, wrapping himself tighter.

"Whatever made you think such a ridiculous thing, Envy? I'm sure Pride likes you." He only wilted further, his enthusiasm dying away as he seemed to finally realize the lack of interest he had received so soon after being born. Lust shuffled herself off her chair, kneeling down beside him

"Don't be downhearted like that Envy, we're a family, we all love you very much." She pulled him closer to her, embracing him much like she so often used to with Pride, so determined to soothe him. He stared up at her, soaking up the affection but confused, at two days old it was no wonder, and even if envy was his sin there was no reason for him to be so miserable.

"Are you sure?" Lust smiled, more at his naivety than anything else, it selfishly reminding her of Pride, reminding her of how selfish she was being too, using him this way. Still, she stroked down his nose, and gave him a less than sincere kiss on the forehead.

"Of course I'm sure." For a moment she even managed to actually believe herself.

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July 8th 1743

Pride didn't have an abundance of clothes by any means, possessing fewer than three complete outfits and less than thirty separate articles of clothing. Some were not best suited for some seasons, venturing out in his thin grey shirt was not appropriate for winter and snowy weather, it made him look particularly 'wretched' apparently too so was not the wisent of choices in how he presented himself to the humans. Other clothes, like his thick white robe, had only seen the light of the human town once and never again, though often warm and comforting, in a sudden chill or frigid breeze it would fail in its duty to keep him warm and would much rather let him catch his death of cold, it also stained terribly at the slightest provocation.

And some of his clothes weren't suitable for anyone. He was forbidden from going upstairs, so long as he wore the clothes of the Amestrian prince he couldn't go upstairs lest he stir unnecessary discord between the humans, and rouse suspicion of him. He didn't mind in the least, why would he, there was nothing to be had in Central that he hadn't already seen in the four times he'd been there, if he were allowed upstairs what new would be there for him? There was no point of leaving; he was content in staying with Father, while Lust and Greed and Envy went upstairs almost every day, Envy just loved going upstairs, just so good at imitating others that he oft caused a spot of irritating but otherwise harmless mischief in pretending to be what he wasn't and would never be.

But Pride could only reread so much, sprawled within his shadowed cocoon, gazing through barely focused eyes at the small gap in the top, arms wrapped lazily around the third volume of that human's essay on the nature of his species, inaccurate as it was about humans in general it was interesting at least, but even his fascination with the book had waned considerably since its publication. It wasn't that Lust didn't like books, she owned many books, he was sure she was going to actually purchase a bookshelf one day rather than carrying on filling her drawers with them, but her focus of taste was a childish fancy for such redundant and immature subjects that he could barely understand, she was one for modern literature in her attempts to present herself as a very cultured and sophisticated woman in Central, having no knowledge about these books was no good, so she had immersed herself in many things, the treatise he was holding (though it didn't prove popular so she had pushed it from her mind), that story of the girl named Pamela and its many parodies, the tale of that human called Joseph Andrews, whatever was in fashion and happened to catch her eye really. If she actually valued the contents of these books she was more stupid than he ever would have assumed, but he wouldn't put it past her.

Sluggishly the shadows began to fracture on his whim, compressing into the usual tendrils and hands, collapsing and falling around him in lazy half spirals, coiling gently into themselves in his unease and boredom. Slowly Pride decided to not bother with anything and lay in a more comfortable shape, curling around the book, half using it as both mattress and pillow and yet neither given its size. Eyes drooping and fluttering shut another eye opened, the eyes with the human-like capillary stains and creased purple eyelids, flitting around in his shadow; even now it was still a peculiar feeling, to be flowing down, out through his feet and in steady black streams across the floor, he hadn't practiced it in a while since he had no use for it, but he thought it better to try now if not to ensure he would be prepared should Father require it of him, to at least pass some time. As Pride continued to force more of himself out from the pores of his feet, through his socks and the leather of his boots he curled tighter, teetering the line between being awake and asleep, it was easier to expand outside of his container when he could keep it still and focus his energy in moving his shadow instead, considerably reducing the volume meant that any moving he did while more of his consciousness was elsewhere would be difficult and not to a standard that he would consider to be acceptable. If he fell asleep he wouldn't be able to stay outside his container, though he would rather not admit that it was something he could not do flawlessly being the age he was, but he needed to be perfect for Father, so he would continue to practice until it was such.

Pride couldn't say that he hadn't improved considerably since he had started using his eyes, he remembered how he used to be, during those ten years he spent with Father, at first even making an eye to form inside his shadow would give him a headache even if it remained close to him due to his warped perspective. After that Father began to blindfold him so as to correct his vision, though once or twice he fainted when he ended up wearing his container out too quickly by not allowing it to rest while doing so. But now, if he stayed still enough, he could move it across rooms, almost anywhere he was sure. And though this was useful for exploration, he knew that controlling his shadows with only hands and teeth was infinitely easier.

As he slinked past Father's chair with a narrow tendril and an even narrower eye (narrow to conserve energy of course) he saw Father give him a glance, and a slightly longer glance at his container. Father didn't move as much as he used to anymore, spent a lot of his time asleep or reading, his hair had faded a tad too, not as vibrant as it used to be- Pride was partially concerned about him, but placed it to something intentional and wouldn't dare think of questioning. Father didn't seem to object so he carried on, up the stairs that still lead to the now Headquarters for Amestris' military. Running along the perpendicular crease between the wall and the floor Pride covertly observed the many human soldiers wondering around, in their identical blue uniforms, the only disruption to the sea of blue gracing his vision being a tallish blonde woman walking by, who looked strangely familiar in some way, and if he was in his container he was sure that voice in his head would have something to say about it. Three children hovering around her, a girl wearing a pale yellow dress walking along side her, holding tight onto the hand of a much smaller boy who looked like he could barely walk, another boy walking little in front of them, curious of what seemed like everything. The smallest one, being closer to the ground, spotted his single eye nestled in the thin shadow on the wall, while he didn't dare move should his presence become more obvious Pride kept his pupil trained on the human, glaring at him, disgusted that such a small pitiful human had managed to discover him. The boy opened his mouth in a tiny 'o' shape, but his surprise turned to fear in an instant, and he pulled away from the girl and ran to bury his head in what Pride assumed was his mother's side. She smiled, cooing something to him and tousling his hair, pulling him a little more quickly along to wherever they were going. Pride waited for them to carry on down the corridor and leave his sight before he decided to move again (the boy never looked back at him), streaming down the opposite hallway, wherever the group had been coming from.

Every hallway looked the same to him, plain and white, nothing like it used to be (back when…), and keeping himself flat against the wall he carried on, travelling along door arches when a door disrupted him, up stairs and along more identical corridors. But once he got distracted, and accidentally went under the door instead of around it, into a room. The room was as bare and bland as any he would imagine considering the walls of the rest of the building. There was a large table and countless chairs dotted around, one single chair at the far end of the room. But something was…different here, strange, overlaid in his mind was a completely different room, exactly the same size but…illustrious yet refined and perfect in its own way, he could see…a dresser and a bed and…

Oh.

It was…her room, so long ago now he'd been here…

For a few moments Pride didn't see the humans and their senseless discussing of things, he only himself and her, clear as day her nineteen year old self, smiling down at him, that weak, pathetic naïve doe-eyed version of him which he despised, and he was smiling back.

Oh, this old thing? It's a tiara, well, it's a crown really, for a boy, from when I was a baby… Mother said I should keep it safe …

Her crown, clipped slanted even now to the side of his container's head dozens of feet away.

Do you want to try…dancing, Pride? It will be fun I promise you.

Pride could see his other self's eyes shine in that ignorant curiosity he used to possess, not a single speck of malice there, he had been intrigued by the foreign word that day, the day before she left and didn't come back for several decades…

Slowly his eyes focused, that wretched image of the past blurring, distorting until it ended up wiping him and one half of the room away in a swipe of black streaked with violet, and her in a cloud of black stained with red blotches, the colour began to wash out and clear, until only the real mahogany seats of the humans' conference room and the bickering humans in them remained. After a moment or two he pulled himself back under the door and returned to the wall, another eye having suddenly formed in his shadow, Pride forced it away with the intention of continuing his exploration.

But he…

…he didn't really see the point. Every room here was bound to be the same. The fact that this particular room had once belonged to her did not faze him in the least, no such pathetically human emotions existed that he could be capable of being affected by such irrelevant memories of his. Pride had merely grown bored and nothing else, and so he retreated his shadow, down the stairs and underground, past Father and seamlessly into his container, shivering a tad at the feeling as he regained control of it, wearily forcing his eyes open, eyelids almost too heavy to be worth the effort. He expected as much from travelling so far. Though seeing no point in staying awake he sighed, absentmindedly scratching at his head, fingers catching in her crown, and he settled for tearing it out, coiling around it and Lust's book as he brought his hands close to his chest, coat splaying out behind him in a misshapen crease. There was something warm and wet pooling around his cheeks, but he didn't care enough about it to take full notice, only curling up tighter and wiping it away as he did. He couldn't take notice of irrelevant things if he was asleep

Or feel absurdly human emotions he was incapable of possessing for that matter.

Before even a minute had passed Pride was asleep, hands tightly wrapped around Sylvie's little golden crown.

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Great, nothing happened this chapter, hope it was okay -_-